Werner Bus Lines Shares Some Sad News 
"It is with great sadness, we announce the loss of one of our Professional Motorcoach Operators, Jason Allen Bragg, age 40 of Conshohocken, PA. Jason went home to be with his Lord, Thursday, April 15, 2021, following a courageous battle with cancer. Jason was an employee for PBA member Werner Coach for the past 13 years, having been a Motorcoach Operator, Driver Trainer, and member of our Driver Safety Committee. Jason was also the recipient of several safety awards.
You could not have found a more loyal fan of the Philadelphia sports teams, especially the Eagles, than Jason - they were his teams! To his family, Jason was the counsellor and kept everyone moving in a positive direction. He had the sweetest tooth anyone had ever seen this side of Hershey and his favorite drinks were Pepsi and sweet tea.
We are blessed to have known Jason and to have had him as an employee. Our sincerest condolences to the Bragg family." |
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Next PBA Coffee Talk!
May 13, 2021
9:30 AM EST
PBA 8th Annual Safety Workshop
August 11, 2021
York Springs Fire Co.
York Springs, PA
SAVE THE DATE!
PBA 2021 Annual Meeting
October 24-27
Wind Creek
Bethlehem, PA
PBA 2022 Marketplace
March 22, 2022
The Liberty Arena
Williamsport, PA
PBA 2022 Annual Meeting
June 19-22, 2022
State College, PA
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How PBA Member Bollman Charter Service Built a Multi-Generational Relationship With Rosen Hotels  For Todd Greenawalt, Rosen Inn International in Orlando feels like a second home.
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Zona Tours - Churchill Down's Official Partner  PBA member, Zona Tours was one of a select group of motorcoach companies providing transportation for the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, held Saturday May 1st.
Congratulations Zona Tours!
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ABC Companies Highlights Stunning Restoration of GMC 'Freedom Ride' ReplicaPBA member, ABC Companies' MN Team refurbished a 1957 GMC Freedom Ride replica for the Alabama Historical Commission Freedom Rides Museum. The project started in July of 2019 with an official completion date of April 2021. After 4,500 hours, the completely refurbished 41 passenger bus with a 671 GM diesel 2 stroke engine and Spicer 4 speed manual transmission is in route to Alabama. It will be unveiled at the museum this May in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Riders.
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TEMSA Unveils Redesigned TS30 PBA member, TEMSA introduced its new TEMSA TS30 (34 passenger) at UMA Expo, held in Orlando, FL. Being among one of the four largest coach retailers in the market, with its over 1,000 vehicles on the roads, TEMSA aims at delivering its electric vehicles that are recently developed for the roads in the United States. Read more...
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Turbo Images Hires Patrick Scully To Lead U.S. Transit Market Expansion PBA member, Turbo Images has added Patrick Scully to the Canadian vehicle graphics company's executive management team to drive its growth plans in the North American public transit market and to assist in its established motorcoach market business. Read more...
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Virtual Tours of Northern Virginia PBA member, Prince William County is hosting four virtual tours, starting May 20, 2021. Virtually explore Arlington County, Alexandria City, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County. Each virtual tour will be approximately 30 minutes long, including time for Q & A at the end. These tours are designed to inspire, educate, and provide operators with resources for planning exciting group tour experiences. Get more information and registration links here.
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Williamsport To Again Be Abuzz With Little League Baseball Players This Summer, With Some Changes
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Museum of Bus Transportation Spring Fling June 4-5, 2021
 The Museum of Bus Transportation looks forward to celebrating the "Golden Age" of bus and motorcoach transportation at their Spring Fling June 4-5. The result of the hard work by their volunteers, the generosity of their vendors, and the commitment of their guests has provided substantial financial support to the Museum. Get details and register to attend.
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PBA Has Masks AvailableWe still have 6 boxes of masks available for distribution. They are the same white, cloth masks we distributed last year. Each box has 500 masks in each. Please let Pattie Cowley know if you're interested in a box. All you would need to do is pay for shipping.
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PBA Co-Signed Letter to Pete Buttigieg Regarding the Union Station, Washington D.C. Redevelopment ProjectTwenty-two state, regional and other motorcoach associations co-signed a letter addressed to Secretary Pete Buttigieg. We voiced our concerns regarding the Union Station, Washington D.C. Redevelopment Project and we encouraged Pete and his team to include more than 60 bus slips for motorcoaches for visits to our Capitol. Read the letter.
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Moving Forward Act Language- PBA Receives Good News
After a Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee meeting in April, Pattie Cowley posed the following to Bob Pento, PA Department of Transportation to get clarification on the issue:
"Currently, a bus company can have their own technicians state inspect their vehicles in PA as their technicians are state certified to perform state inspections. I am thinking that the proposed federal Moving Forward Act is addressing those states that do not have a state inspection and only an annual DOT inspection. Language would be key. I suggest the Act would say that "those bus companies located in states without state inspections." Read Bob Pento's response.
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Another Good Reason to Register for 2021 Annual Meeting!
 Both tourism-focused educational sessions scheduled "Tips to be Successful with the Tour & Travel Market" and "Lingo Bingo" will be eligible for credit for those currently enrolled in American Bus Association's CTIS program. Once participants attend both sessions designed for our Travel Suppliers, they will complete the form available online at www.buses.org/ctis for each course and submit them for .5 credits each.
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UMA EXPO Encore - May 18-20. PBA Members Get Discounted Pricing!
To bring the EXPO experience to all interested motorcoach businesses, UMA is hosting EXPO Encore, May 18-20. They have special pricing to allow you and your team to benefit from EXPO's content along with live discussions and all-new bonus video interviews. Get details here!
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Driver and Employee of Distinction Awards Nominations Open!
This year, the award presentation will take place at the 2021 Annual Meeting luncheon on October 26th at Wind Creek Bethlehem.
Nominate a driver or an employee whom you feel deserves special recognition for their dedication, safety record, and commitment to your company and the motorcoach industry in general. Time will be allotted at the presentation for your personal comments, by a company representative, on the achievements of the employee.
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CERTS Act Updates
PBA Asks Reps to Sign New CERTS Letter
 PBA and our Members reached out to House Reps for help with a new CERTS Letter. The entire industry efforts in just one short week, gathered 57 supporters to sign. The letter asked for additional investment as Treasury staff have estimated the program will be oversubscribed. Here is a copy of the final letter with signatures. Reach out and thank your reps!
Companies Seeing Light at the End of the Tunnel for Certs Grants
Motorcoach company operators received welcome news when the U.S. Department of the Treasury recently released guidance on the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Act grant program. The move by Treasury marks the first measurable step forward since the law was signed by then-President Donald Trump late last year, after six months of ceaseless lobbying efforts. Read more...
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Members...Share Your News With Us!
Share with us your story, any special news, such as company anniversaries, etc. by sending an email to director@pabus.org.
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REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
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Wolf Administration to Lift Mitigation Orders on Memorial Day, Masking Order Once 70% of Pennsylvania Adults Fully Vaccinated
The Wolf Administration in coordination with the COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force, announced that mitigation orders except masking will be lifted on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at 12:01 AM. Read more...
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Senate Republicans Move To Stop RGGI By Blocking Wolf's Appointments To PUC
The fight over the Wolf Administration's plan to have Pennsylvania join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative was taken to a new level. Read more...
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Should Pennsylvania Strip the Governor's Disaster Declaration Powers?
Republicans in the state legislature pushed for these ballot measures after being stymied in other efforts to roll back Wolf's emergency COVID order. Read more...
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Pennsylvania Will Lose a U.S. House Seat After Redistricting
Pennsylvania will lose one of its seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Census Bureau has confirmed, setting up a high-stakes redistricting process as Democrats and Republicans battle to protect their incumbents. Read more...
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Law Banning Hand-Held Devices When Driving Proposed In PA
The state House is considering legislation that would prohibit people from using hand-held phones while behind the wheel. Read more...
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Congressional Update: Republican Infrastructure Plan; Climate Summit; Electric Vehicles
U.S. Senate Republicans announced a $568 billion infrastructure framework. President Biden opened his virtual Leaders' Summit on Climate. The Biden Administration announced several new programs to advance electric vehicle deployment. Read more...
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IRS Rule Allows Deductions for Expenses Previously Disallowed Under the PPP Loan Program
The IRS is providing businesses that received a first round Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan a way to deduct expenses they could not claim last year. Read more...
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CDC Announces Fully Vaccinated Americans No Longer Need to Wear a Mask Outdoors
Fully vaccinated Americans will no longer be required to wear a mask outdoors in certain situations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced, marking the latest in an evolving set of health guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more...
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USDOT Updates
USDOT Proposes Rule To Restore California's Right To Set Its Own Vehicle Emission Standards
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it is withdrawing part of a Trump-era rule that removed California's waiver under the Clean Air Act to set their own stringent vehicle emission standards. Read more...
USDOT's FMCSA Issues Temporary Hours of Service Exemption in Response to the Unanticipated Shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced as part of the federal government's efforts to actively assess the implications of the Colonial Pipeline incident and to avoid disruption to supply, that the USDOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is taking steps to create more flexibility for motor carriers and drivers. Read more...
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FMCSA Updates
FMCSA Medical Review Board to Meet May 19-20
They will consider changes to Medical Examiners Handbook, review changes to the diabetes reporting form, and evaluate changes to the vision standard. The meeting is virtual so check out the link below to register or view the meeting. The meeting will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, May 19 and 20, 2021, from 9:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time (ET). The meeting will be open to the public for its entirety. Advance registration is recommended via the FMCSA website at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mrb. Requests for accommodations because of a disability must be received by May 12, 2021. Requests to submit written materials to be reviewed during the meeting must be received no later than May 12, 2021.
FMCSA Pennsylvania Division Hosting 3 Free Online Seminars in June
In support of its mission to improve truck and bus safety on our nation's highways, the FMCSA Pennsylvania Division will be hosting 3 different FREE educational seminars designed to help carriers familiarize themselves with important safety programs impacting the motor carrier industry. View flyer for complete details and to register.
FMCSA: Large Trucks are Involved in 1/3 of All Fatal Crashes Occurring in Work Zones
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) called on all drivers to "share work zones safely" by staying alert, obeying traffic signs and allowing all vehicles extra space as the nation's annual roadway repair and construction season commences. Read more...
FMCSA Training Provider Registry
The Training Provider Registry will help commercial driver's license (CDL) applicants connect with training providers who are self-certified to provide required entry-level driver training. Read more...
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TSA Updates
TSA Passenger Mask Requirement Extended for Public Transportation Through September 13
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is extending the face mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the United States, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems through September 13. Read more...
TSA Extends Employee Security Training Compliance Date
In special consideration of on-going challenges to the surface transportation industry in response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), TSA has extended the deadline for submitting plans to TSA to June 21, 2021. Read more...
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CVSA: Fleets Falsely Believe They're Compliant With Canada's New ELD Regulation
Some fleets are mistakenly under the impression that their ELDs are compliant with Canada's upcoming third-party certification requirement according to Kerri Wirachowksy, director of the Roadside Inspection Program at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. Read more...
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New York, New Jersey, Connecticut Ending Most COVID Restrictions on May 19
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are lifting most Covid-19-related restrictions on May 19, signaling a denouement for some of the country's strictest lockdown orders and social distancing protocols imposed during the pandemic. Read more...
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Motorcoaches Are Clean, Green, and Efficient: These Selling Features Matter to Today's Consumer
We know our industry represents the cleanest, greenest way to get from one place to another, but not everyone else does. Read more...
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New National Park Service (MPS) Mobile App Is Now Available
The new National Park Service (NPS) mobile app is now available for visitors to national parks across the country. Created by park rangers with visitors in mind, the NPS App gives the public up-to-date information about all 423 national parks in one easy-to-use app. Read more...
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Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Are Resuming Bus Tours
Both Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are allowing group bus tours to resume as COVID-19 infection rates decline and vaccination numbers rise across the country. Passengers will be required to wear a mask on board, according to the National Park Service rules. Read more...
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How To Plan for the Future When Everything Is Changing
Nothing is going to be the same as it was in early 2020. We can't go back there and we have to create a future without a lot of insights and knowledge. How do you plan for the next year when you aren't sure what will happen? Read more...
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Six Ways To Stretch Your Social Ad Dollars
We're all looking for ways to stay connected to the right people and build our future group business. Yet what opportunities are staring us in the face? Read more...
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Army Trainee Hijacks Elementary School Bus Full of Children; Kids All Safe
A Fort Jackson trainee is in custody after allegedly hijacking a South Carolina elementary school bus with 18 children on board while carrying a rifle, authorities said. Read more...
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Speed Likely Factor in Fatal Arizona Tour Bus Crash
A tour bus on its way to the Grand Canyon was speeding when it flipped on its side, killing one passenger while injuring dozens, according to an investigative report that stops short of drawing conclusions about the cause of the crash. Read more...
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 Important Reminders - Don't Forget!
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ICYMI- MEMBER ALERTS
 Member Alerts are sent out to our Members as needed. Here are the alerts we sent out since last Go News below.
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Executive Coach, Fullington Trailways, Innovative Coach, Krapf Transportation, Mlaker Trailways, Trans-Bridge Lines and Wolf's Bus Lines have coaches and other items for sale now!
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The Motorcoach PAC allows the Pennsylvania Bus Association to support legislators who work with us to promote, change or defeat legislation that impacts our industry. Contributing to Motorcoach PAC gives us a stronger voice in Harrisburg. Please consider giving $200, $300 or more.
Personal checks may be made payable and sent to:
Motorcoach PAC
200 North Third Street, Suite 1500
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Corporate funds are not permitted in any form. Unincorporated business checks are acceptable providing no owner or partner of the business is a corporation. Please contact Milliron & Goodman if you have any questions at (717) 232-5322. Political Action Committee donations are not tax deductible.
Download the solicitation form for more information.
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PBA IS ACTIVE ON MULTIPLE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
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Stay Connected! PBA maintains active Social Media Platforms. In addition to the emailed communications we send to you, we actively share information to our Facebook and Twitter accounts and our new LinkedIn. We encourage you to LIKE US, FOLLOW US and ENGAGE with us! #pabus
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